Under proposals being considered by the Government, Lewisham Hospital in south-east London would see its emergency department replaced with an "urgent care" ward and its maternity services turned into a midwife-led unit.

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt is due to make his decision on the plans by February 1.

The closures are part of a radical overhaul proposed by a special administrator in response to nearby South London Healthcare NHS Trust (SLHT) going into administration after it started losing around £1.3 million a week.

But SLHT - which runs three hospitals in the capital and was the first NHS trust to collapse - does not have responsibility for Lewisham Hospital.

Campaigners say a "successful and well-run" hospital is in danger of being sacrificed due to the neighbouring trust's failure.